Study of Matthew February 25, 2023 Discussion Question: Who is Jesus to you? Matthew 16:13 – 20 Who we know Jesus to be matters as we live in this world. Our opinion will not change that Christ is King and Lord but it will change what we can see accomplished in our lifetime in HIS might name. 1. Convinced Who do men say and who do you say that Jesus is? Not a problem knowing what others are saying about Jesus. But the greater issue is what are you saying about Jesus! 2. Christ Who do you say that Jesus is? vs. 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Christ meaning you are the anointed ONE of God; Messiah Peter did not get this from conducting a poll of what the most popular preachers were saying; He did not get this from doing empirical research of what had happened to others; He did not get it by reading the top best books of his day or listening to the highest rated podcast Peter got this by divine revelation… the Heavenly Father revealed it 3. Confession vs. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock The question is always what is the rock? For centuries people have argued over this text. It states upon this rock – Peter’s name means stone …but Jesus is building on a massive rock; a foundation stone not rock you could throw! Ephesians 2:20 reminds us that Jesus is the Chief Corner Stone! Jesus is the rock on which everything is built 4. Congregation vs. 18 I will build my church… Church in this text is ekklesia. Ekklesia is a term that means assembly or public square. o It means a group of citizens called out from their homes into some public place to assembly for some purpose. Furthermore it implies called out from the world and to God In Greek culture, the ekklesia, was the place where the people gathered to make decisions about their community. Jesus is declaring that what HE builds; HIS Kingdom will impact what is happening in our community. 5. Controlling Force vs. 18 … and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Gates of Hell…Caesarea Philippi stood near the foot of Mouth Herman. It was a city dominated by immoral activities and pagan worship. This spot had become the religious center for the worship of the Greek god Pan…at this site is a cave; the Greeks believed that this was the entrance (gate) to the underworld of the fertility gods that lived there. There was a natural spring and the pagans believed that this water coming up from the underground was a symbol of their gods traveling from the underworld at the entrance (gate) of this cave into the world. Jesus brings HIS disciples to this spot…what a visual…and here HE declares…the evil that happens here…the evil that comes up from hell cannot, will not prevail against my people gathered to do my work. Not Prevail… will not over power; will not get the upper hand; will not be superior in strength against my people gathered to do the work of the Kingdom. Make no mistake we are in a war…in our present time there is a war against our children from the gates of hell. o This sexual deviant generation that is trying to get into public schools to teach elementary children how to have every type of perverted act is the same as the gods at Caesarea Philippi. Why do we prevail? Because HE gives us the Keys of the Kingdom o Keys represent Access, Authority, Ability (binding and loosing) o To have authority is to be a person that exercises (administrative) control over others. o But authority can also mean freedom from doubt; someone that speaks with authority. A judge speaks with authority; a District Attorney speaks with authority; a mom speaks with authority…leaving no doubt! It’s different when someone with authority speaks. The people of God are to speak with authority granted by the Christ, the Son of the Living God!